Re-Torquing Stock Head Bolts

[JRussell3176]

I've heard you can re-torque the stock head bolts a little to help keep the head gasket in place. I plan on doing studs in the future, but figured since the valve cover and exhaust rockers are off I might as well give this a try. Has anyone here done this or know the correct procedure and torque numbers?

 

[moonranch]

Here is the info I have. I do not know about "re-torquing"

 

[rbattelle]

Here's the 2006 procedure:

1. Torque to 52 ft*lb.
2. Back off 360° in sequence.
3. Torque to 77 ft*lb.
4. Re-check all bolts to ensure they're at 77 ft*lb.
5. Tighten all bolts an additional 90°.

I wouldn't touch them.

Ryan

 

[Mark1si]

Here's the 2006 procedure:



1. Torque to 52 ft*lb.

2. Back off 360° in sequence.

3. Torque to 77 ft*lb.

4. Re-check all bolts to ensure they're at 77 ft*lb.

5. Tighten all bolts an additional 90°.



I wouldn't touch them.



Ryan

LOL so whats the real torque number

 

[TFucili]

Here's the 2006 procedure:



1. Torque to 52 ft*lb.

2. Back off 360° in sequence.

3. Torque to 77 ft*lb.

4. Re-check all bolts to ensure they're at 77 ft*lb.

5. Tighten all bolts an additional 90°.



I wouldn't touch them.



Ryan

This means they are "torque-to-yield" bolts, and Ryan is correct, probably best left alone. By following that torque sequence and then going an additional 90' that is, to put it crudely, pre-stretching the bolts a controlled amount.

 

[JHardwick]

By following that torque sequence and then going an additional 90' that is, to put it crudely, pre-stretching the bolts a controlled amount.

That's all torquing is.

 

[TFucili]

That's all torquing is.

True enough, but when you finish by turning the bolt a prescribed number of degrees rather than to a particular torque specification, there is a difference.

Note also that torque-to-yield bolts are not to be reused.

 

[rbattelle]

Note also that torque-to-yield bolts are not to be reused.

True, however, the service manual does specify a bolt length and allows reuse of an old bolt as long as it's not any longer than the specification.



So I think they are "torque to almost yield".



Ryan

 

[JHardwick]

True, however, the service manual does specify a bolt length and allows reuse of an old bolt as long as it's not any longer than the specification.



So I think they are "torque to almost yield".



Ryan

As soon as a bolt stretches it has "yielded", they are just making sure it has not yielded to deformation.

 

[Morse]

Some have great results with this. . I blew a head gasket with studs. . I then had Garmon build me a lower compression motor, and he used bolts instead of studs. . I didn't get much runtime on the truck, but the new owner said it blew the head gasket just a couple days after he had it. . I was gonna do bolts on my 06 until this happened. I changed my mind, and just went with studs. . I don't plan on pushing mine past 50 or 55 pounds anyway. .